Nitrates and Nitrites May Increase Heart Attack Survival

According to a new study, a diet high in nitrate and nitrite-rich foods may improve the chances of surviving a heart attack. The same study also suggests that a nitrate/nitrite-rich diet may also speed recovery of a heart attack. The study is quite significant because most of the pervious research done on nitrates and nitrites focused on the potential ill-effects on one's health, most of which has been denied by experts. If the findings prove to be true, simple dietary changes may greatly increase heart health.

Nitrites, more specifically sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite, are found in many foods. The two additives act as both preservatives and color fixatives in certain meats and fish products. Although nitrites are useful in the food industry, they are also toxic to humans in large doses. Because of this, there are strict guidelines that mandate the amount of nitrites that can be used in food and drugs. Nitrites have long been the subject of research and controversy. Many believe that nitrites have carcinogenic properties under the right circumstances. The ingestion of cured meats has been linked with COPD, lung disease, and colon cancer. The link between disease and cured meats is thought to be because of nitrites. Because of this, many people shy away from foods containing nitrites. However, recent research has highlighted the suspected benefits of nitrites and not the supposed drawbacks. Nitrites have been found to be an excellent vasodilator and it has been proposed that nitrates may be able to help in the treatment of many diseases and conditions.

Nitrates, although chemically distinct, are similar to nitrites. Nitrates, principally potassium nitrate, occur naturally in many foods. The chemical is present in almost all vegetables. Nitrates are occasionally used as additives in foods. When nitrates are ingested, they are broken down into nitrites during digestion. Because of this, nitrites and nitrates are often thought of as one in the same when it comes to ingestion. Likewise, nitrates are subject to the same scrutiny of nitrites. On the other hand, nitrates hold the same potential for benefits as nitrites.

In the study, researchers studied two groups of mice: group one was fed a diet high in nitrates and nitrites and group two was fed a diet low in nitrates and nitrites. Following a heart attack, seventy-seven percent of the mice in group one survived while only fifty-eight percent of mice in group two survived. Group one also showed less cell death in the heart than group two following the heart attack.

Experts are not sure why there appears to be a link between nitrates/nitrites and heart attack survival. It is theorized that the link is due to the vasodilator properties of nitrites. Obviously, more research needs to be done. Hopefully future research will not only confirm the link and debunk the theory that nitrites and nitrates are bad, but it will also determine if the chemicals prove to be an effective treatment in heart disease as well as other conditions.

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HealthDay News